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Tuesday is the final day of the 2013-14 academic year for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and most in North Carolina, although a few systems, like in Union County, will finish Wednesday. The last day of school typically is full of farewells, and there is always a group of educators calling it quits.

But rarely do the farewells include such an experienced group as at Rama Road Elementary. Add in teachers Sheila Johnson and Vera Hern, and the five retirees total more than 140 years as educators.

“That’s really an amazing total, and they’ve been such a great resource,” says Principal Patricia Denny.

The Triplets actually are a pair of twins – Cathy and Donna Hartley – and good friend Cathy Fiola. Donna Hartley has been at Rama Road Elementary for 31 1/2 years. Cathy started a half-year later. Fiola has 27 years’ experience.

The Triplets have taught sons and daughters of students they had a generation ago. They laugh as they recall some of the strange things they’ve experienced in the past three decades. But they still get surprised – every day, they say.

“Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you see something new,” Donna Hartley says.

They say they probably would stay another year or two, but Rama Road Elementary will lose several staff positions for the 2014-15 academic year.